Golf club swing arc impact location training system

ABSTRACT

A golf club swing arc impact location training system that helps the user to determine the ideal deepest point of his or her swing in relation to the location of the ball being hit. A rigid rectangular frame is topped by an elastic panel that can be deformed when the user swings and hits a golf ball attached to a tether assembly fixed to the edge of the rectangular frame. An array of photodiodes mounted on the inner surface of the frame senses the location of the depressed elastic panel as the ball is hit and sends the results to a digital display mounted on the top surface of the frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of golf training tools anddispensing devices and more specifically to a golf club arc impacttraining system essentially comprising a cuboid golfer stand and acuboid golfer swing practice assembly that includes sensors to detectand display the impact location of the user's golf club in relation tothe arc of the swing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION

Golfers routinely spend much time and money with golf coaches andtraining equipment on perfecting an ideal swing but are generally nottrained to cause the deepest point of the swing to be in the correctlocation in relation to the ball.

Inventor's professional experience shows that the optimal swing causes adivot approximately one inch in front of where the ball was originallyresting. This is counter intuitive to most golfers who think that thedivot should be just behind where the ball was originally resting. Byusing the arc impact training system of the instant invention, a golfercan train himself or herself to cause the divot to be in the ideal clubhead to ball location for maximum power and distance.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a golf club arc ballimpact training system for a golfer to practice hitting a golf ball atthe bottom location of the swing, which results in hitting the ball togo further and straighter than when not struck at the ideal location; toprovide a training system that includes a tethered ball and an elasticpanel representing a golf course surface, which can be deformed as theuser's club head drives toward the ball. The location and shape of theelastic panel deformation can be sensed by photodiodes located to theside of and under the elastic panel. A graphic display built onto thesurface of the practice assembly indicates if the location of thebottom, that is of the deepest point of the swing arc is ideal or not.Golfers routinely spend much time and money with golf coaches andtraining equipment on perfecting an ideal swing but are generally nottrained to cause the deepest point of the swing to be in the correctlocation in relation to the ball.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isdisclosed a golf training system that includes a practice assemblycomprising a rigid rectangular frame, with an elastic panel attached tothe top of the frame, the elastic panel representing a golf coursesurface. A horizontally tethered golf ball is attached to the topsurface of the elastic panel frame so that the ball is located centrallyand slightly above the elastic panel. A plurality of sensors are locatedin the hollow space below and to the side of the elastic panel thatsense the deepest point, of the arc of the golfer's swing based on thedeformation of the elastic panel as the golfer swings to hit the ball.The resulting information regarding deepest point location is theninstantly displayed on a digital panel located on the top surface of therigid frame. The training system also includes a golfer stand having amat representing a golf course surface, the mat elevation matching thatof the practice assembly elastic panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments to the instant invention, which may be embodied invarious forms. It is to be understood that in some instances variousaspects of the instant embodiments may be shown exaggerated or enlargedto facilitate an understanding of the instant invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment practice assembly.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the embodiment practice assemblywith the elastic panel removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective section view of the embodiment practiceassembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective section view of the embodiment practice assemblywith the elastic panel being deflected.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment practice assembly showingthe club capture camera.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the ball rotating header assembly about tobe inserted into the frame of the golf practice assembly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the golf ball rotating headerassembly inserted into sockets on the frame.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the golf ball rotating header assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein.It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may beembodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailedsystem, structure, or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the embodiment 100.A user stands on a golfer stand having a mat golf course simulating topsurface of which is elevated to be level with the practice assembly 4top surface. The practice assembly includes electronic sensing anddisplaying means to determine the deepest point of the user's swing. Agolf ball 8 is tethered by arm 10 to a rotating assembly 8 so that theball 12 resides in the central portion of the elastic panel 24 located asmall distance below it. A rigid frame 14 holds an elastic panel 24taught like a drum. The sensing and displaying means of the instantembodiment comprise a display 34 to show the user how well he or shematched the ideal deepest point location of the club swing, which isslightly in front of the ball when hitting on a fairway and slightlybehind the ball when hitting out of a sand trap. Additional sensing anddisplaying means of the instant embodiment are shown in FIGS. 2 through7 .

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the electronic practice assembly 4. Ball 12is located in the center of elastic panel 24. The ball automaticallyends up in the central position by use of magnets in the rotatingassembly 8. Display 24 shows the arc 50 of the user's swing in relationto the ball 52. The result of sensing the location of the deepest pointof the swing is displayed as a graphic symbol or a word such as “good”54.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the practice assembly 4 with theelastic top panel removed showing a hollow portion 15 formed by thesides of the rectangular frame 14. A plurality of photo-diode sensors16, a component of the sensing and displaying means, are set to monitorthe deflection of the elastic panel 24 as the club head presses down onthe elastic panel 24 during the swing. The pressing down of the elasticpanel 24 equates to a “divot” that is formed on the golf green whenplaying under standard conditions. Ideally, the deepest point of thedivot should be approximately one inch in front of the ball during thearc of the swing. The front of the ball is defined as the area locatedin the space between the ball and the forward direction of the flight ofthe ball. This location of the deepest point of the swing aids inhitting the ball further and straighter than when not struck at theideal location. Golfers routinely spend much time and money with golfcoaches and training equipment on perfecting an ideal swing but aregenerally not trained to cause the deepest point of the swing to be inthe correct location in relation to the ball.

FIG. 4 is a side section view of the electronic practice assemblyshowing the elastic mat 24 in the flat position.

FIG. 5 is a side section view of the electronic practice assemblyshowing the elastic mat 24 in a deformed position as the club head bearsdown on the mat 24 during a golf swing. The plurality of photodiodes 16sense the deformation 17, a data processing unit will translate thesensed deformation electronic data into a graphic picture shown ondisplay 34. The data processing unit such as data acquisition electronichardware, a microprocessor or a microcontroller, and battery powersupply not shown, are located within the hollow portion of the rigidframe 14 interprets the information sent to it by the photodiodes 16 andsends corresponding signals to display 34.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the electronic practice assemblywith the rotating ball assembly removed from sockets 22. The legs 20 ofthe rotating assembly can be inserted into the left side of the sockets22, or the middle or the right side of the sockets 22. This allows theuser to practice for fairway ball hitting in which the deepest point ofthe swing should be in front of the ball, or a sand trap condition wherethe deepest point of the swing should be slightly behind the ball.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the electronic practice assemblywhere the rotating assembly 8 is located so that the ball is behind thedeepest point of the swing if the direction of the ball is moving towardthe left of the ball 12

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the rotating assembly 8 cap 44 includes adownward facing screw 45 that penetrates an aperture in tether centralmember 42. The tether member 42 is inserted into bearing member 40 andall are held in place by screw 45. A magnet located on the side oftether central member 42 is drawn to a magnet located in the side wallof bearing member 40 causing the ball 8 to stop at the central locationover the elastic mat 24 after it stops rotating after the ball has beenhit. Alternately, the shaft of a stepper motor can function as the axleabout which the tether central member 42 is attached. The stepper motorcan sense the location of the tether arm 10 and a microprocessor cancause the stepper motor to brake when the tether arm 10 is in thecorrect position to land the ball 8 at the center of the elastic panel24.

It is to be understood that the sensing and displaying means of the golfclub swing arc can be also implemented by other electronic means orother photosensors not comprising photodiodes.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention tothe particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended tocover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Definitions

In the claims, the word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence ofother elements or steps then those listed in a claim. Furthermore, theterms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as “one, or more thanone.” Also, the use of introductory phrases such as “at least one” and“one or more” in the claims should not be construed to imply that theintroduction of another claim element by the indefinite articles “a” or“an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claimelement to inventions containing only one such element, even when thesame claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at leastone” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an.” The same holds truefor the use of definite articles. Unless stated otherwise, terms such as“first” and “second” are arbitrarily used to distinguish between theelements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarilyintended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements.The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually differentclaims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot beused to advantage.

In the claims, the word ‘up’, unless described otherwise, has itsordinary meaning of upward from the ground or surface; conversely, theword ‘down’, unless described otherwise, has its ordinary meaning oftoward or to the ground, floor, or bottom.

In the claims, the expressions ‘deepest point’ and ‘bottom’, unlessdescribed otherwise, have its ordinary meaning of the deepest point ofthe golf club swing, typically the location of the club hitting the golfcourse surface.

In the claims, the word ‘top’, unless described otherwise, has itsordinary meaning of being the highest, i.e., vertically furthest fromthe ground, floor, or bottom.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club swing arc impact location trainingsystem comprising: an essentially cuboid golfer stand assemblycomprising a golfer stand frame for a golfer to stand on while using thegolf club swing arc impact training system, wherein the golfer standassembly further comprises a mat simulating a golf course surface; anessentially hollow cuboid golfer swing practice assembly comprising: aframe enclosing a hollow space comprised of a base, a top, two shortframe members, a first long frame member, and a second long framemember, the two short frame members perpendicularly attached to the longframe members; the top comprising an elastic mat panel member simulatinga golf course surface, the elastic mat panel member anchored into andheld taught between the tops of the two short frame members; a rotatinggolf ball tether assembly disposed on top of the first long framemember; a sensor rectangular array composed of plurality of photo-diodesensors disposed on first long frame member face facing the hollowspace; a data acquisition apparatus, a data processing apparatus, and apower supply, disposed within the first long frame member; a golf balltethered to the rotating golf ball tether assembly; a digital cameradisposed on top of the second long frame member, facing the first longframe member; and a data display disposed on top of the first long framemember, enabled to display data acquired from photo-diode sensors of thesensor rectangular array and from the digital camera.
 2. The golf clubswing arc impact location training system of claim 1, wherein theelastic mat panel member elasticity allows the elastic panel surface todeflect when struck by force exerted by a golf club, wherein furthermorethe elasticity of the elastic mat panel member causes the elastic matpanel member to return to its pre-strike shape.
 3. The golf club swingarc impact location training system of claim 1, wherein the rotatingball tether assembly comprises four anchor pins, a tether arm attachedto a rotating tether, the rotating tether relocatably disposed on thetop surface of the first long frame member, wherein furthermore thefirst long frame member comprises a plurality of apertures foraccommodating the rotating ball tether assembly in a location mostsuitable for a golfer using the golf club arc impact training system. 4.The golf club swing arc impact location training system of claim 3wherein the rotating tether assembly comprises a stator and a rotor, therotor and the stator further comprising a plurality of magnets, whereinthe magnets cause the tethered golf ball to return to the location itwas at just before being struck by force exerted by a golf club.
 5. Thegolf club swing arc impact location training system of claim 3 whereinthe rotating tether assembly comprises a stepper motor, the steppermotor comprising a stator and a rotor, the stepper motor causing therotor to return the tethered golf ball to the location it was at justbefore being struck by force exerted by a golf club.
 6. A method oftraining a golfer with visual feedback depicting the deepest deflectionpoint of an elastic mat panel member deflection of the golfer swingusing a golf swing club arc impact training system, the elastic matpanel member deflected when a tethered ball being struck by forceexerted by a golf club and providing the golfer with impact relatedvisual feedback, the method comprising steps of: (a) the golfer hittingthe tethered ball disposed on the elastic mat panel member by swinging agolf club, the golf club swing arc impact location training systemcomprising a photo-diode array sensing a deflection of the elastic matpanel member, causing the deflection to be displayed on a data displaydisposed on top of the first long frame member via a data acquisitionapparatus and a data processing apparatus; and (b) the golfer hittingthe tethered ball disposed on the elastic mat panel member by swinging agolf club having a head, the digital camera capturing an image of anangle of the club golf club head about to hit the tethered ball, thegolf club arc impact training system data acquisition apparatus and thedata processing apparatus analyzing the captured image and displaying iton the data display via the via data acquisition apparatus and the dataprocessing apparatus.